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Must…resist…urge…to…mention…genre…resurgence…

Connecticut brosephs With Honor and the Distance have put out a rather swell split EP on Martyr Records, complete with a crazy four-way fold out digipak and artwork that could’ve been done by John Kricfalusi himself.

With Honor turned more than a few heads with last year’s Heart Means Everything as well as 2003’s self-titled EP, so it’s safe to say this’ll continue the trend. The band has added a healthy dosage of melody into their music, and it’s for the better – mostly. While the addition of such incorporates a new and great upbeat character to the band’s style, some of the chorus lines are badly plagued with relatively cheesy vocal semi-layering and near-effects. Granted it lasts no more than three seconds at a time, but it probably only seems like such a disruption since what makes up the rest of the three songs is really solid and enjoyable hardcore, flowing perfectly with no further errs on the band’s part. The opener “Gun For Hire” is easily the standout track, with appropriate usage of gang vocals, an abandonment of verse-chorus structure and a spectacular mid-song melody in the line ”I’m wishing for the day when I can break these chains.” The epic structure of “Pipe Dream” is pretty interesting for the genre as well though, breaking down into a harmonizing gang vocal chant that quickly fades into the background.

Standard procedure for most hardcore splits is to, after pulling you in with a more melodic opening side, practically curb stomp you with the second, and it’s no different here. But the Distance provides a rather scathing half of a bit more straightforward and almost equally interesting tunes, regardless of its clichéd positioning. Their youth-crew style, in the vein of Scraps And Heart Attacks, provides a darker alternative to its preceding side. In some cases it could probably kill cohesiveness, but here it mixes up the EP well.

Not only does the release hint at further development for both bands; it’s immediately enjoyable as well. If you like either band as well as the genre in general, I can’t find any reason as to why you wouldn’t dig this.

MP3s
With Honor – Gun For Hire
The Distance – Phase One Of The Plan Succeeds



People who liked this also liked:
Bane - Give BloodAgainst Me! - is Reinventing Axl RoseWith Honor - With HonorBane - The NoteWith Honor - Heart Means EverythingCrime in Stereo - The Troubled StatesideCrime In Stereo - The ContractLife Long Tragedy / Final Fight - Split [7 inch]The Loved Ones - Keep Your HeartSinking Ships - Disconnecting



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    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 at 7:50 PM (EST)

    Read the SCENE POINT BLANK review here

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 at 1:22 PM (EST)

    "i hate when people who dont know anything about hardcore review hardcore records, yuck

    I hate when people make anonymous accusations on someone they've probably never even spoken with, yuck."

    Hey idiots, this is the internet. Instead of expecting intelligent dialouge between dissenting parties, try yelling at a brick wall...you'll likely get further with the wall.

    Posted by pastepunk on 2005-03-16 12:41:07

    Definitely a great split - the artwork is out of control... The Distance definitely need to scrap together like 16 songs for a full-length quick!

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-03-16 09:25:55

    i hate when people who dont know anything about hardcore review hardcore records, yuck

    I hate when people make anonymous accusations on someone they've probably never even spoken with, yuck.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 at 2:21 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    i hate when people who dont know anything about hardcore review hardcore records, yuck

    Posted by dazed on 2005-03-16 01:34:31
    My Score:

    There are songs by both of these bands that I still like enough to overcome the boring "sincerity, heart, backstabbing, values" second-wave hardcore buzzword lyrics. And that's saying something since my tolerance for that kind of stuff has generally gone out the window.

    Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-03-15 22:40:52
    My Score:

    Scott, pick up their full length Heart Means Everything. Less singing, but its still amazing.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 3:59 PM (EST)

    get the ep.

    Posted by maverick on 2005-03-15 15:02:52

    This split was the first I ever heard of With Honor, and I loved it. What should I buy next?

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 2:33 PM (EST)

    i'm with the first guy who posted about not getting with honor. and i'm from ct.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 11:29 AM (EST)

    modern life is war signed with deathwish a little while ago.

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-03-15 08:42:16
    My Score:

    with honor = best band in hardcore right now

    "pipe dream" is by and large the best song they've ever written

    fantastical

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 4:03 AM (EST)

    both pretty good bands

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 2:10 AM (EST)

    is modern life is war still on matyr?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 1:21 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    This score is for split CD's. The idea of a split is that you can play only one side if you want and never have to flip the record over if the other band sucks. Split CDs will flow from one band to the next if yer not paying attention and therefore may punish your ears.

    -Ken

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 1:17 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    I hate when reviewers don't give both bands equal parts. Every review I have seen for this always talks about WH and hardly mentions The Distance, who I think is just as good as WH. Different styles but there is alot more to them then just "youth crew hardcore".

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 12:56 AM (EST)

    ps: That cake song "shes going the distance" is amazing

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 12:56 AM (EST)

    Scouts With Honor?

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-03-15 00:38:23

    i just cant get into standard hardcore like this...it all sounds the same to me... and its not that good. one song is good once in awhile...but thats about it

    maybe i need to turn up the 'heart' nob on my stereo to truly appreciate it

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by _911 on 2005-03-15 00:30:51
    My Score:

    what isn't to get about them? they are so fucking awesome. heart means everything. that totally describes them..this band has a ton of heart.. they are the real deal.. we need more bands like them

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-03-15 00:15:01
    My Score:

    I still just don't get With Honor. I just don't.

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